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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. KENNEDY.

MILL APPLIANCE. No. 446,526. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

WITNESSES. INVENTOR.

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(No Model.) 5 sneet sheet 2. J KENNEDY. MILL APPLIANGE.

No. 446,526. Patented Feb. 17,1891.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

J. KENNEDY. .MILL APPLIANCE.

No. 446,526. I Patented Feb. 17,1891

INVENTOR.

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WITNESSES (No Model.) 5 SheetsS heet 5 J. KENNEDY.

MILL APPLIANCE.

' Patented Feb. 17 1891.

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES.

NIlED STATES PATENT hi ters.

JULIAN KENNEDY, OF LATROBE, PENNSYLVANIA.

MILL APPLIANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. dd6,526, dated February17, 1891.

Apnlieation filed December 30, 18891 fieu'al No. 335,359. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIAN KENNEDY, of Latrobe, in the county of\Vestmoreland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Mill Appliances, of which the following is a full, clear,and exact description.

I11 the accompanying drawings, Figure 1, Sheet 1,is a plan view of myimproved metalgripping device. Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a side elevationthereof. Fig. 3, Sheet 3, is a sectional plan view, the section being onthe line III III of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a vertical sectionalview of the foot of the mast. Fig. 5, Sheet 4, is a plan view of a partof the jib, showing the seat for the operator and the water-connections.Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line VI VI of Fig. 5.Figs. 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 5, are vertical crosssectional views on thelines VII VII, VIII VIII, and IX IX of Fig. 1.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

Referring to the drawings, 2 represents the upright cylinder of thecrane.

3 is the stationary plunger, which is fixed at the base in a step I andpasses up within the cylinder, as shown inFig. 4.

5 is a water-supply pipe which enters the cylinder.

The mast G of the crane .is fixed to the upper end of the cylinder andextends vertically therefrom up through an elevated steadilnent orhearing 7, in which it may turn and through which it may movelongitudinally. As the strain upon the mast is comparatively small, itmay be made of light material. 01'- dinary gas-pipe will do very wellfor this purpose.

In the operation of the crane, when it is desired to raise its burden,water is admitted into the cylinder 2, with the effect of raising thecylinder and the mast on the stationary plunger.

8 is a vertical guidepost set on the step 4. adjacent to the cylinder 2,and 9 is a slide block which lits loosely around the post 8 andencircles the cylinder 2 between shoulders formed thereon,as shown inFig. 4. For purposes hereinafter explained the portion of this blocksurrounding the cylinder serves the function of a fixed sheave and ismade of circular form, and in order that it may be easily set on thecylinder I prefer to make it in two pieces adapted to be boltedtogether, as shown in Fig. 3.

10 is the jib, formed of 'suitably arranged beams, as shown in Figs. 1,2, and 3, fixed to the vertical crane-cylinder, as shown in Fig. I, andconnected with the mast by diagonal braces or struts 10', whose upperends are set in sockets in a divided annular collar which is fittedaround the mast and is clamped thereon by bolts. As this collar is heldin position without in any way necessitating the cutting of the mast, itdoes not weaken its structure and enables the mast to be made of verylight material.

At the sides of the jib, near the inner end thereof, are cylinders 11and 12, having plungers 13, carrying at their outer ends pulleys 14..Chains 15 are fixed to the circular portion of the block 9 and extendthence on respectively opposite sides of the jib around the pulleys Itand to the ends of the cylinders 11 and 12 or to other fixed points 011the jib to which they are attached. These cylinders 11 12 afford meansfor turning the crane on its axis, since it the plunger of one of thecylinders be projected the force exerted thereby on its chain, which isattached to the jib and to the fixed circular portion of theslide-block, will pull the jib around in the direction of the side onwhich the cylinder is situate.

16 are the pipes which supply water or other motive fluid to thesecylinders.

The gripping mechanism by which the metal bloom or ingot maybe seizedand carried consists of two oppositely-acting angular jaws 17 and 18.The shank of the jaw 17 is fixed to the end of a plunger 10, whichprojects from the front end of a cylinder 20 on the jib, and the shank21 of the other jaw 18 is fixed to a plunger 22, which projects from therear end of said cylinder. It is also connected with the plunger of asmaller retracting-cylinder 24, as shown in Fig. he shanks of thegrippingjaws are mounted in suitable guideboxes 25 and are connected bya lever 26, which is pivoted to the frame of the jib and is providedwith links 27, pivotally connecting it to the gripper-shanks, so thatneither of said shanks can move unless the other moves correspondinglyand to an equal extent in the opposite direction. Gearing or othermechanical devices maybe substituted for the lever and links to performthe same function.

In operating the grippers to seize a metal piece they are firstseparated by admitting water into the small cylinder 2i, the effect ofwhich is to project the plunger 23, the gripper-shank 21, and by meansof the links and lever 27 and 26 to correspondingly retract the gripper17. Now if water be admitted to the cylinder 20 it will projecttheplungers 19 and 22, thereby retracting the gripperlS and projectingthe gripper 17, which, under the restraint of their connectingmechanism, before described, move in opposite directions to thesamecxtent, thus grasping the metal piece around which the grippers havebeen placed. The advantage of this is that the grippers are alwayssituate at equal distances from a central point and that when the metalpiece is grasped, no matter what be its diameter, its center will bebrought to a fixed or absolute point on the jib. This construction andmode of operation of the grippers are of especial advantage in the useto which I haveparticularly designed the apparatus--namely, the handlingof circular ingots used in the manu facture of railway-ties-since I amenabled by the mere act of grasping the ingot with the grippers to causeit to be centered automatically at a fixed point, thereby enabling it tobe punched and hammered with great accuracy. The centering of thecircular ingot is also facilitated by the angular or wedge shape of thejaws.

As shown in the drawings, the grippers are constructed so as to be openon one side. This is of material advantage, because it enables the metalto be grasped by merely mov- .ing the crane laterally to cause thegrippers to inclose it without making it necessary to place the grip ersin position from above. The ends'of th gripping-jaws are preferablyprovided with points or teeth 47, so that when it is desired to cause ametal piece to swing by gravity into a vertical position it may begripped between these teeth at opposite points situate between the endof the piece and its center of gravity.

The crane is controlled in all its motions by an operator, who may bestationed on a seat 28, the valves 29, 80, and 31, controlling thedifferent water-connections, being situate directly in front of him. Tothis end I employ a water-supply pipe 32 and an exhaustpipe 33,connected with the crane by flexible connections, as shown in Fig. 2,and extending along the jib to the valves 29, 30, and 31. From the valve29 the water-pipe 5 extends to the vertical cylinder 2. From .the valve30 pipes 34; and 35 extend to the cylinders 24: and 20, and from thevalve 31 the pipes 16 extend to the cylinders 11 and 12. All of thesecylinders are single-acting. For example, in the case of the cylinders11 and 12 the projection of one of the plungers and the turning of thejib will automatically retract the other plunger.

The valves 30 and 31 are four-way valves adapted to connect either oftheir respective cylinders with the water-supply and the other with theexhaust, or to cut off both from the water-supply. Thus by simplemanipulation of the valves the operator is enabled to move the jibvertically, to swing it radially on the axis of the mast, and to operatethe grippers, and as the operator is carried on the jib he constantly isat the same distance from the grippers, so that whether the jib is movedvertically or radially he is at the same position relatively to the workwhich he performs. The crane may therefore be handled with greatfacility and little labor and attention.

The advanta es of in im )roved a )aratus have been already indicated ina general way. It is a means of saving a considerable amount of labor,it is simple in its construction, and is very rapid and efficient in itsaction. Although it is designed especially for use in manipulatingcircular ingots,it will be understood that the parts and combinations ofthe apparatus separately claimed by me are not limited in theirapplication to such use, but that they may be employed for any otherpurpose to which they are suited.

I claim- 1. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces thecombination of a movable carrier or jib, oppositely-movable grippersmounted thereon and having opposite angular faces shaped to afford anangular cavity for receiving and centering an interposed metal piece, amotor which actuates the grippers, and connecting mechanism by which thegrippers are connected and caused to move to an equal extent,substantially as and for the purposes described.

2. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces, the combinationof longitudinally-acting shanks having horizontal gripping-jaws, and amotor which causes the jaws to approach and diverge,substantially as andfor the purposes described.

3. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces, the combinationof a horizontally-movable jib and gripping-shanks mounted thereon andhaving jaws projecting horizontally therefrom and open at one side,whereby by horizontal motion of the jib the metal piece may be iuclosedbetween the jaws, substantially as and for the purposes described.

4. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces, the combinationof longitudinally-movable shanks having horizontal angulargripping-jaws, a motor by which the shanks are moved longitudinrlly, andcom necting mechanism by which the grippers are connected and caused tomove simultaneously to an equal extent,substantially as and for thepurposes described.

5. The combination, with the jib,,of grippers carried thereby andpower-driven plungers by which the gripper-jaws are individually moved,substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination, with the jib, of grippers carried thereby and ahydraulic cylinder having oppositely-projecting plungers connected withthe gripper-jaws, substantially as and for the purposes described.

7. The combination, with the jib, of grippers carried thereby, ahydraulic cylinder having oppositely-projecting plungers conneeted withthe gripper-jaws, mechanism connecting the jaws and causing them to movesymmetrically, and a retracting-cylinder for opening the jaws,substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces, the combinationof longitudinally-movable shanks having horizontal gripping-jawsprovided with oppositely-projecting spurs by which the piece maybegrasped pivotally to permit it to swing into a vertical position,substantially as and for the purposes described.

9. The combination of the vertically and radially movable jib, a motorcarried thereby and connected with a place of attachment verticallymovable with the jib, but otherwise stationary, whereby by operation ofamotor the jib may be swung on its axis, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

10. The combination, in a crane, of an upright cylinder and plunger, oneof which is vertically movable and rotatory, of a jib projecting fromthe vertically-movable part, a mast also projecting verticallytherefrom, and a top steadiment through which the mast is movablelongitudinally and in which it is rotatory, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

11. In a crane, the combination of the vertically and radially movablejib and mast, an upright guide-post, a vertically-movable guide-blockmounted on the post and secured to the mast, permitting rotation 011 itsvertical axis, and turning cylinders mounted on the jib and havingflexible connections with the guide-block, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

12. In a crane, the combination of the vertically and radially movablejib and mast, an upright guide-post, a vertically-movable guide-blockmounted on the post and secured to the mast, permitting rotation on itsvertical axis, and turning cylinders mounted on the jib and havingflexible connections with a sheave-shaped portion of the guide-block,substantially as and for the purposes described.

13. The combination of the vertically and radially movable jib havinggrippers thereon, cylinders for raising and swinging the jib andoperating the grippers, and valves carried by the jib and controllingsaid cylinders, substantially as and for the purposes described.

ll. In apparatus for gripping and conveying metal pieces, thecombination, with a radially and horizontally movable jib, of a motorfixed to the jib and carried thereby, metal grippers also carried by thejib and connected with the motor, by which they are moved in oppositedirections to or from each other, and mechanism connecting the grippersand causing them to move simultaneously to an equal extent, whereby inevery position of the grippers the central point between their jaws andthe central point of the piece grasped thereby shall be constantrelatively to the jib, substantially as and for the purposes described.

15. In a crane, the combination of a vertically-movable jib, a cylinderby which the jib is raised, a mast movable vertically with the jib, anda top hearing or steadimlent through which the mast is movablevertically and in which it is rotatory, substantially as and for thepurposes described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this HSd day ofDecember, A. D. 1889.

' JULIAN KENNEDY. Witnesses:

W. B. CORWIN, II. L. GILL.

